Broom holder and lock



A. J. LANGLOTZ BROOM HOLDER AND LOCK Aug. 18, 1925. 1,550,549

Filed July '7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Augustus Lan glolz Aug. 18, 1925. 1,550,549

A. J. LANGLOTZ BROOM HOLDER AND LOCK Filed July '7, 1923 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Augustus J1 Langlotz Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS J. LANGLOTZ, F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

BROOM H OLDER AND LOCK.

' Application filed July 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LAUsUsTUs J.;LANG- LOTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilmington, inthe county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented new and useful Improvements in Broom Holders and Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to broom holders, and one of the principal objects of the invention is to produce a device of this nature which will efiectively hold the broom and will prevent slipping down of the broom when j arred;

Another object is to produce a deviceof this nature which will adapt itself to all sizes andshapes of handles.

,Another object is to produce a device which shall be simple of construction, cheap to manufacture, and highly etlicient for the purpose for which it is designed.

lVith these and other objects in view, the inventionresides in certain novel features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which t Figure 1is a front elevation of the device with the jaw closed.

Figure 2is a front elevation with the jaw open.

Figure 3is a top closed.

Figure 4is a top plan view with the jaw open. l

F igure 5is a face view of ,the stationary 1 Like characters of reference refer to like parts in all views.

I am well aware that many broom holders have heretofore been invented, but in most of these spring compression has been resorted to, and usually the jar of passing trolleys or trafiic will be sufficient to jar the broom down until it rests on the floor. Now the very purpose of a broom holder is to keep the weight of the broom off the bristles, and with this in view I have attempted to solve the problem from a scientific point of view taking into consideration the fact that there are fifteen sizes of. broom handles constantly in use, and some of these are fiat or oval. The present invention contemplates a broom holder which shall have a plan view with the jaw 1923. Serial No. 650,091.

positive gripping jaw structure, releasable by operation of a finger-piece and adapted to receive and firmly grip any size or shape of broom handle. a

Referring to the drawing in detail, 10 represents the wall, Wainscot or other structure to which the device is attached. The broom holder itself comprises essentially two castings, one of which is secured to the wall, and the other of which is pivoted to the first. The stationary member comprises ascutcheon 11 which is provided with suitable apertures for the passage of screws 12 by which the device is secured to the wall 10. From the scut'cheon there projects outwardly a neck 13, the front end'of which is broadened out into a curved bracket 14:. At one end, the bracket let is formed with a stationary aw member 15.

The jaw member 15 is constructed as" shown with a longitudinal groove 16 which is flanked on either side by slightly curved surfaces 17. Each of the surfaces 17 is narrower at the top than at the bottom and it will be noted that the elfectiveface of the entire jaw member is arranged at a slight angle to the vertical plane of the axis of the neck 18. The peculiar construction of this member very materially contributes toward taking care of the various sizes and shapes of handles, and by being inclined as mentioned, constantly throws the handle of the broom into engagement with theteeth of the movable jaw to be presently described.

The bracket 14: has its other end formed 1 with a slot 18 for providing a suitable bearing for the movable jaw, and is formed at- 19 into a stop for limiting the movement of the movable jaw as will presently be more fully understood.

A pin 20 passing through the bracket 14 I at the slot 18, forms a pivot for the movable jaw 21 which is formed with an ear 22 pierced with a hole through which said pin 20 passes. This movable j aw is also formed with a lug or boss 23 by means of which the jaw may be forced to engaging position and withdrawn therefrom by the finger of the operator. The inner face of the movable jaw may be described generally as a tapered, curved, toothed channel. The bottom of the channel is smooth at 24 but is curved and tapered from end to end, the end nearest the pivot being the broader. The walls 25 of the channel flare slightly, are tapered, and provided with a plurality of teeth 26,

of which there are fifteen on each wall, the fifteen teeth being provided for the fit teen different sizes of standard broom handles, and the radius of the curvature being arranged to bring these teeth at exact-1y the proper places for the sizes which they are intended to handle. It is: also to be noted that each tooth on one wall is placed opposite the space between two teeth on the opposite wall. The arrangement perof obtaining the greatest possible grip ,on oval and odd shaped handles, and automatically adjusts to any standard size.

In operation, the broom handle is placed flat'against thejaw elements 17, and then the movable jaw is closed, the particular teeth .26 taking a firm grip on the handle and being augmented in this by a slight pressure of the finger or thumb against the boss or lug 23. lVhen the broom is now released, the slanting effect of the surfaces 17 throw the-handle more firmly against the teeth, and there is absolutely no chance of accidental displacement. hen it is desired to release the broommerely throw the movable'jaw back against its rest 19.

-YVl1ile Ihave described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many of the parts may be varied without in any way depart ing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein shown nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limited only by the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A broom holder comprising a supporting neck, a bracket curving laterally there from, said bracket having a jaw member on its inner face at its outer end, said jaw member comprising a central groove and slightly curved surfaces on each side of said groove, said curved surfaces and groove forming the effective face of the jaw and being arranged at a slight angle to the vertical plane of the axis of the supporting neck and a movable jaw for co-operation with said jaw member.

2. A broom holder comprising a support- .ing neck, abracket curving laterally therefrom, said bracket having a jaw member on its inner face at its outer end,said jaw member comprising a central groove and slightly curved surfaces on each side of said groove, said curved surfaces and groove forming the effective face of the jaw and being arranged at a slight angle to the vertical plane of the axis of the supporting neck, a bearing upon said neck and disposed oppositely to said jaw, a movable jaw carried by said bearing and adapted to co-operate with said first named jaw face.

3. A broom holder comprising a supporting neck, a bracket curving laterally there from, said bracket having a jaw member on its inner face at its outer end, said jaw member comprising a central groove and slightly curved surfaces on each side of said groove, said curved surfaces and groove forming the effective face of the jaw and being arranged at a slight angle to the vertical plane of the axis of the supporting neck, abearing upon said neck and disposed oppositely to said jaw, a movable jaw carried by said bearing and adapted to 00-01)- erate with said first named jaw face, said movable jaw having its inner face tapered,

curved, and provided with a toothed channel extending longitudinally thereof at its center, the walls of said channel being flared slightly and provided with a plurality of gripping teeth disposed at acute angles to the longitudinal axis of the jaw, the teeth on one side of the groove being disposed staggerei'lly with respect to the teeth on the opposite side of the groove.

4. In a broom holder, a stationary jaw and a movable jaw co-opcrating therewith, said movable jaw having its inner face tapered, curved, and provided with a smooth channel extending longitudinally thereof at its center, the walls of said channel being flared slightly and provided with a plurality of gripping teeth disposed at acute angles to the longitudinal axis of the jaw, the teeth on one side of the groove being disposed staggeredly with respect to the teeth on the opposite side of the groove.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

AUGUSTUS J. LANeLoTz. 

